Adventures in vegan eats and feats

WIAW + a day of breakfasts

Ahoy! Today’s munchies are all about recovery – I only got back home Tuesday night at 22h00+ after spending an entire day at the hospital waiting to be prodded, so I only managed 100ml of apple juice and 1/2 a cup of tea before spacing out at home. I spent the whole day fantasizing about food so yesterday was all about spoiling myself (in moderation, I don’t want a repeat of last time). The best way to treat oneself, to my mind, is to dedicate the day to breakfast foods, so here’s a blast of WIAW!

Before we get cracking just a little update! I went for my biopsy on Tuesday so now get to wait a week to get some results and hopefully a plan of action for my ever-present and escalating symptoms. I had to stop taking liquids and food the evening before at 22h00, as is usual, but what the buggers didn’t tell me is that I was only scheduled for 15h00, which got delayed to 18h00 thanks to some or other emergency. If you think I love food it’s nothing compared to my new appreciation for water because that was the absolute worst. Well no, what was worse was seeing everyone else in the ward slurping away at their water and having their guests keep me awake with crinkling crisp packets and talking loudly on their phones. Is there seriously no hospital etiquette anymore where you keep as quiet as possible to let people sleep away the waiting period? Glargh!

Anyway, long story short I came out of theatre as talkative as can be (as soon as they removed the pipe from my throat, which I suspect the nurses regretted once I started my stream of consciousness) and super happy and high on anesthesia. That pretty quickly changed, however, to blasted nausea from hell, a doubly parched throat and the inability to drink more than a glass of liquid before feeling sick, BUT I made sure everyone on staff knew that, whatever the hour, I was going home, despite barely being able to walk. Pigheadedness does have its perks!

Breakfast #1/05h00: rooibos tea + the other half of my 125ml hospital applejuice. Juice is pretty disgusting since it was one of those things I cut out to stave off diabetes, but easy sugar source! I woke up at some point due to pain and had to munch my pain tablets, and then Freyja heard the ruckus and started meowing so I decided to keep her company instead of waking up Man-thing with her scratching at the door. Honestly I don’t know where the pain comes from or why, but in my groggy state I stumbled around and set off the alarm and woke up poor Man-thing anyhow, whose last words to me last night were “I’m so exhausted”, most likely from keeping me company and watching me drool post-surgery :p Breakfast #2/06h30: 2 TBSP protein powder, cinnamon + boiling water. I wasn’t quite read for real food yet, so this was something to tide me over.Breakfast #3/10h30: 1/2 papaya, 1/3 cup soaked buckwheat groats, 1 TBSP chia seeds pre-mixed with 1/4 cup soy milk, cinnamon, a few drops of NuNaturals NuStevia Liquid Cherry Vanilla, some goji berries and frozen raspberries. Delicious much? Nom nom. If I had almond butter you can bet I’d drizzle the pants off this dish! Plus, Man-made coffee. Always tastes better than my own ❤Man-thing’s reaction when he saw my plating (with frilly spoon) was “you’re such a girl”. I totally blame it on the meds :pSeriously, this was probably the best non-smoothie bowl breakfast I’ve had in forever – so much so that I’m having it again tomorrow!

I don’t usually overdo it on fruit in the mornings but I figured the moisture of the papaya and the chia pudding with the crunch of buckwheat would help my sore throat a little. I didn’t actually know until after the procedure that the reason they shove a hard tube down your throat is to mechanically give you air since your lungs stop working from so much anesthetic! 😦 Needless to say, 22 hours of dehydration plus tubes and what not does not equal my best speaking voice ever. My breakfast clearly looked so good that even little miss Freyja was curious enough to try and break my no-tables rule.Lunch/13h00: chickpea scramble on ancient grain toast with 1 tsp no-sugar mulberry jam + salad. The scramble tasted good but what a fail in terms of getting the “scrambled eggs” look! Still, I decided some protein was in order, and most especially savoury goodness since I was making meringues (as a thank-you to Man-thing for his heroic efforts in keeping me on my feet) and meringue-based ice-cream/sorbet (for an upcoming recipe!) and ugh, so much sugar! I usually lick my baking and cooking spoons silly but this is one recipe where I absolutely cannot do that to myself without getting a diabetic sugar crash of doom. Eating the final product is fine but during? Never again.

Dinner/17h30: 1/2 cup polenta, 1/2 cup soy milk + cinnamon with some vanilla. We went to my little sister’s choir concert at 18h00, hence the early dinner, which turned out to be a whole festival of mini-me choirs, so that was rather jarring. Luckily hers was fourth or so on the list and they were simply marvellous (seriously, no bias!) and she was the cutest there (seriously, who can argue with that blonde puff?). Unfortunately I was still woozy and half falling asleep so we left immediately after her choir, quickly stopping at the waiting room to give her an embarrassing big-sister hug in front of all her friends. Second dinner/20h00: 1 frozen banana, 2 TBSP protein powder + boiling water + cinnamon, followed by some super watery shredded zucchini, tomato + eggplant soup (well, soup being a strong word considering there was no broth or real seasoning, just actual water added). Typical that once the pain meds wear off I get hungry again (and in pain, but whatever), so I decided to take advantage of the situation to get some munchies in my system. Pre-bed snack: 1 brown rice cracker, 1 tsp crunchy PB + 1 tsp carob powder with boiling water. Because why not, I’ll feel ill later anyway!In other, less medical and boring news, I’m determined to release my free ebook this week! I still haven’t come up with a title, because how do you make a carrot-based ebook sound cool and amazeballs? If anyone has suggestions, by all means please throw ideas my way! It’s such an epic collection of breakfast, snacks, lunch/dinner and dessert recipes, all with carrots somewhere, gluten-free, and numbering at 25 recipes :D!

Also, because I totally can, I’m going to cheer myself and everyone else up with pictures of my kitties. Meow! ❤

Regal Gatsby and Freyja kept me company during my brief naps – it’s always a joy to nap with them, especially if one feels like mulled over mush and they just accept you as you are.Before I show you what the little monster did, here are some recent pics of her in her natural state when she isn’t jumping off the walls, tackling Gatsby or eating all his food and getting underfoot in the kitchen.

Isn’t she just darling? I love Gatsby dearly but he is not a cuddle bunny, so I’m so blessed to have a fluffypants that actually appreciates and craves snuggles. Although she never ever scratches in rage or anything she apparently doesn’t like being sprayed with anti-flea stuff, and hence I got mauled, despite never getting so much as a nip when I volunteer with shelter cats. Spoilt is what!So there you have it, food, cats and scars – the perfect combo of gore, glee and glomp!

Like this:

Related

Ahoy, I’m Margaux! History teacher and freelance editor; wench to my Man-thing; volunteer at a cat shelter; and handmaiden to our kitsy cats, Gatsby, Freyja and Atlas. This blog is dedicated to vegan food, occasionally overthrown by pictures of foster kittens and other fluffy creatures. I love sharing ideas and recipes, so don't be shy: stop by and say hi!

They gave me grief about it at the hospital and big talk about needing to see me wlak before letting me leave but the lady could see I was stubborn and eventually brought a wheelchair 😉 Thanks Arlene, he’s definitely a pie and got vegan meringues as a thank you – I’m very blessed!